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Burton J. Green

Burton J. Green

Burton J. Green Law Offices
43 South Atlantic Ave.
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: (321) 784-4957  |  Fax: (321) 784-3505
http://www.burtongreenattorney.com

Contact Burton J. Green

Practicing Law in Brevard County Since 1975

Legal Topic

Wills, Trusts & Estates

Preferred New Clients

Clients needing estate planning such as wills, family trusts, living wills, medical designates, or need to administer a will or litigate a probate matter.

Sub-Categories

Wills, Trusts & Estates
  • Nolo Document Review
  • Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights
Estate Planning
  • Charitable Giving
  • Charitable Trusts
  • Drafting Trusts
  • Drafting Wills
  • Estate Administration
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trusts
  • Living Wills
  • Probate
  • Asset Protection
  • Guardianship
  • Power of Attorney
  • Business Succession Planning
  • Special Needs Trust
  • Supplemental Needs Trust
  • Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust

Legal Topic

Bankruptcy

Preferred New Clients

Representing debtors in bankruptcy Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

Sub-Categories

Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13
  • Chapter 7
  • Debt Relief
  • Chapter 11
  • Business Bankruptcy
  • Personal Bankruptcy
  • Foreclosures

Bar Admissions

FL, Oct 1975
Bar Number: 199389

Other Court Admissions

a. All Florida Courts
b. Federal District Court, Middle District of Florida
c. Federal District Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida
d. United States Court of Appeal, Eleventh Circuit

Association Memberships

a. Family section, Florida Bar
b. Criminal Law section, Florida Bar
c. Entertainment Law section, Florida Bar

Continuing Education

I attend continuing legal education seminars on the topics of Family Law, Bankruptcy, Criminal Law, Wills and Estates. I also take extra courses of interest. I received Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for teaching a program in Asset Protection.

Papers and Publications

I wrote several of the articles included in textbook for a seminar that I participated in as a lecturer for the National Business Institute seminar on "Unraveling the Mystery of Asset Protection Vehicles in Florida," held on December 5, 2003, in Orlando, Florida.

Example Cases

a. Represented an elderly gentleman in a suit to recover two pieces of real property worth in excess of $600,000 claimed to have been deeded by my client, 87 years of age, when he was not competent to know what he was doing. Title to the property returned to my client as result of trial verdict.

b. I am currently representing a mother who is the sole heir in her deceased son's will in a contest with the decedent's divorced wife. Case is still being litigated.

c. I represented a man charged with attempted murder and arson. After a five day trial, my client was found not guilty.

d. I have handled over a hundred filings of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.

e. I have represented many clients in child custody battles and contested divorce actions.

Education

Degree:

Juris Doctor

School:

University of Florida School of Law

City:

Gainesville

State:

FL

Year:

1975

Focus and Accomplishments:

Interned at Public Defender's Office, West Palm Beach, Florida. Assisted on the defense team in the prosecution of the Gainesville 7 Anti-Vietnam defendant's trial.

Number of Attorneys

1

State Licensed In

Florida

Firm Focus and History

For over 20 years I represented the American Civil Liberties Union in Brevard County, Florida, and handled many civil rights and constitutional litigation cases. I have actively represented clients in all types of criminal cases, from capital death penalty cases (murder, rape) to misdemeanor and DUI type cases. I am now more focused on bankruptcy cases, family law cases, estates, wills, probate and estate administration cases. However, I would characterize my practice as a general law practice, as I will still consider accepting representation in many different types of cases.

I opened my own law practice upon graduation from law school in October, 1975. I have practiced as a one-person law office since then, with the exception of from 1980 to 1981, when I was in a partnership with another attorney. I have always practiced in Brevard County, Florida.

Previous Employment Summary

No employment outside of law. I was in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1972 (drafted). On being released from the army I operated my own import shop selling goods from the Middle East, South America and Mexico for two years. I then went to law school and started practicing immediately upon graduation.

Activities and Awards

a. BV in Martingale-Hubbell.
b. Pro bono services to American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) causes that appealed to me

What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

An educated client is better able to evaluate his/her legal situation and needs, although self-education often results in some misunderstandings about the legal principles involved. But the bottom line is that educated is better than ignorant.

Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I have done it in the past but generally prefer not to do it. If the paperwork is wrong or incomplete, which it often is, then the client gets upset and thinks that I just want to charge them to do what they have already done. It usually is not a good situation. It works only when it is for a former or current client who knows me and knows that I am not trying to rip them off.

Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

Again, I have done it. However, it can often backfire against the lawyer when things go wrong and the client tries to implicate the lawyer in some type of representation errors. Generally, it is not something that I will do unless I know the client from past dealings.

Why did you decide to be a lawyer?

It was really so long ago that if there really was a reason I do not remember it. Going to law school was something I decided upon while walking on the beach thinking that my I really did not want to continue to run my import shop. I can honestly say that while growing up, being a lawyer was what I thought about because I was one of those socially conscious types and not good in math or science. I always thought it important to be involved in a life based on defending principles and rights. It was either being a teacher or a lawyer. Law won.

What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?

My 20 years representing the American Civil Liberties Union clientele reinforced my interest in handling cases that focused on protecting people's rights and establishing limits to government actions. I was always conscious of how susceptible to abuse of government and police power people are. That awareness shaped my social outlook. Being a lawyer provides me the opportunity to do what I can to prevent that type of abuse.

Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?

After almost 34 years, my primary area of practice has changed several times. When I was younger I was oriented to trial work and litigation. Now that I am older I am not able to do as much of that type of work as before. My areas of practice are moving in the direction of more of an office related practice or non-litigation type work. So you could say it is a matter of convenience that shapes my primary area of practice.

What do you like best about your career?

Sometimes I like the fact that I can help people out of problems. Other times I like that I have the opportunity as a lawyer to get involved with issues that are important to me in a way that only a lawyer can be involved. As a lawyer I am able to take a stand on an issue and give that stand a voice using my lawyer's soapbox and my ability to litigate.

Tell us about your law firm:

I am a sole practitioner, so all of my clients deal directly with me.

What are your strengths and style?

I am independent and resourceful (have to be when you practice solo). I have a simple and direct style: I say what I mean and mean what I say. I am somewhat gentle and soft-hearted, and always try to be considerate. I have learned to empathize with my client's problems and needs because my practice has always been in representing individuals and not the corporate establishment.

Personal Interests:

I have always been involved in various voluntary activities. I have volunteered my services for AIDS support groups, been on the boards of many community non-profit groups, such as community theater and community art shows. I hosted a live call-in ACLU TV show for many years. I organized and headed a community organization that for five years brought in national panels to public forums to discuss current and topical national issues. I have participated in coaching mock trial teams in the high school. I tutor adult reading literacy. Also, I used to have an Irish Setter who thought that he was my personal interest, but he died long ago and we never really decided whether he was right or wrong.

Office Manager/Assistant

Regina

Fax

(321) 784-3505

Office Hours

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Emergency After Hours

No

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

These fees would be fairly standard in my practice:

BANKRUPTCY
Chapter 7: $1,200 - (filing fees costs extra)
Chapter 13: $2,250 - (filing fees costs extra)

DUI and Other Criminal Cases
$1,000 minimum retainer fee

FAMILY LAW MATTERS
$750 - retainer, contested
Flat fee - uncontested

WILLS, PROBATE, TRUSTS
Simple Will - individual: $400
Simple Will - husband and wife: $550
Standard Family (living) trust: $850
Power of attorney, medical surrogate, living will: $150
Package - (will, living will, family power of attorney, medical surrogate)
single person: $475
husband & wife: $800
Estate administration (probate) statutory fees applied

Hourly Rates

$200.

Free Initial Consultation?

On the routine type cases, i.e. bankruptcy, family law matters, I offer a free half hour consultation. Where a charge is appropriate, I charge my hourly rate—$100 for a half hour consultation, $200 for one hour.

Typical Retainer

No. I do not normally treat retainers as non-refundable, although that is the case in some type of matters. My usual retainer is an advance fee against which I bill. In most cases I quote a retainer amount with each client based on the type of case and the client's financial situation.

Understanding Fees

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